Chief Secretary BR Sharma on Wednesday assured to address demands by media fraternity which among others include enhancement in budget allocations and empanelment of new newspapers in the State.The Chief Secretary made the assurance after a delegation from Jammu Kashmir Press Association (JKPA) headed by GH Kaloo called upon him at Civil Secretariat here today. The meeting was also attended by Director General (DG) Information, Zaffar Ahmad Bhat.The association presented memorandum of demands calling upon government to address problems facing the fraternity expeditiously. The demands include increase in budget allocation so as to revise advertisement rates for newspapers which has not been done for many years even as rules provide for revision of rates every two years.The association also demanded that advertisements published in national newspapers shall be debited from concerned department rather than State’s Information department and the advertisements of corporations and autonomous bodies shall be rooted through information department.
The association also demanded empanelment of new newspapers, rehabilitation of those media houses who suffered damage due to floods, residential accommodation to house less media persons, as well as expediting setting up of press colony and housing colony as already promised by the state government.Talking to Global News Service (GNS), JKPA President GH Kaloo said that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and the Chief Secretary assured to look into the demands and address them expeditiously.The association President hailed Chief Secretary and DG Information for hearing their demands patiently and for promising to address the demands projected in the memorandum. (GNS)